Stories

In interviews with Iowa Independent this week, several delegates discussed the tough choices they may have to make at Saturday’s county convention.

Oak woodlands, tall-grass prairies and wetlands are the focus of Connie Mutel’s new book, “The Emerald Horizon: The History of Nature in Iowa.” She is the featured speaker at an event Tuesday in Iowa City.

Videos from Karl Rove’s appearance at the University of Iowa are below the fold, including part of Rove’s talk.

More photos from the event are below the fold.

Have you ever dreamed of winning the lottery? What would you do with the money? Keep it? Give it away? What if you inherited a million dollars? Would you travel? Would you buy a house in a warmer climate and start a neighborhood tutoring center?

That’s what former Iowa Citian Jamie Schweser did.  Schweser, the son [...]

Ever wondered about the intricacies of legislating on Iowa’s capitol hill?  We talked to Rep. Tyler Olson, D-Cedar Rapids about them in the context of the bill to ban smoking in public places, which he floor-managed.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has denied Missouri-based LS Power and subsidiary Elk Run Energy their construction permit for a coal plant in Waterloo Thursday because of “failure to meet an administrative requirement.”

Air Quality Bureau Chief Catharine Fitzsimmons told the Iowa Independent that her office “turned the application back to the applicant because they [...]

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is predicting record high prices at the gas pump this year. In their February fuel-price survey issued yesterday, they noted that a continued climb in crude prices is keeping gas prices above $3 a gallon. DNR Program Planner Jim Bodensteiner said that “lowered demand and strong inventories” won’t [...]

As he shepherds and tracks several energy bills being funneled to committees in the state Legislature before next week’s cutoff date, Sen Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, praised Gov. Chet Culver’s energy policies:
“Governor Culver has done an outstanding job on his advocacy for what he calls the next-generation energy economy … There might be some people [...]

Gov. Chet Culver announced his energy plan today in a phone call from Washington, D.C., where he is attending the National Governor’s Association Conference. The three-pronged proposal leans heavily on improving energy efficiency standards.

One part of his approach calls for the establishment of a new commission within the Department of Public Safety that would focus [...]